Access to Nonidentifying Adoption Information in Arkansas

If the adoptee has died, the adoptee’s children, widow or widower, or the guardian of any child of the adoptee

The birth parent of the adoptee

Any child welfare agency having custody of the adoptee

What Arkansas Nonidentifying Adoption Information Includes

Arkansas Citation: Ann. Code § 9-9-505
Nonidentifying information is available upon request to any person listed above. Nonidentifying information for adoptions includes the health, genetic, and social history of the child.

Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry

https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dcfs/heartgallery/CFS_434_Jan_15_03.pdf

To obtain information through the Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry, you need to complete a three (3) step process that you have to go through.

You may include any other information you feel may be helpful regarding your adoption; such as, place of birth, name of hospital, your birth name, where your adopted parents lived at the time they adopted you, if you were in foster care, etc.
You may then email, fax or mail your inquiry to the Adoption Registry Coordinator.
Click on email address: chanel.moore@arkansas.gov, fax number is: 501-682-8094, or mailing address is:

If you are a birth relative please submit (in writing):
Please read the information regarding the MCVAR to see if you qualify for information. If so, please submit the following information:

A brief explanation of the type of information you are seeking; such as: background information on the adoptive family or trying to find a birth child.

Birth name given to the child/adoptee.

Child/adoptee’s date of birth.

Birth mother’s name at the time child/adoptee was born.

Your name.

Your relationship to the child/adoptee.

Your return mailing address.

You may include any other information you feel may be helpful regarding the child/adoptee; such as, name of the hospital, city or town child/adoptee was born in, attending physician, nurse, etc.
You may then email, fax or mail your inquiry to the Adoption Registry Coordinator.

STEP 2: Receive Registry Packet Notification

Adoption Registry Coordinator will check files to verify if we have your adoption record.

Adoption Registry Coordinator will notify you within three (3) working days if we do or do not have your adoption record.

To print an affidavit form click here

Complete the affidavit form.

Non-identifying Adoption Information

If you are seeking non-identifying information (genetic, health, and social history of adoptee), complete sections A and B.

Complete section E; get your form notarized.

Get a money order or cashier’s check for $5.00. If you are seeking both non-identifying and identifying, one money order or cashier’s check for $25.00 is acceptable.

Mail the notarized, completed affidavit form with money order or cashier’s check.

Arkansas’s Confidential Intermediary Program for Adoptees and Birth Parents Searching

If you are seeking identifying information (to be matched with a birth relative or adoptee), complete sections A and B.

Complete section D; set appointment for counseling session. You need to receive a minimum of one (1) hour of counseling. If you live within Arkansas, you will need to contact the Adoption Specialist that serves your county. For a list of Adoption Specialist’s in Arkansas click here. If you live outside Arkansas, you will need to find a social worker with a licensed agency in your state. (You may incur a fee for the counseling). The social worker will need to counsel with you on issues related to finding the birth relative; such as, what are the pros and cons of finding the birth relative, what if…. The counselor will have to complete section D on your affidavit form, so be sure to take it with you to your appointment.

Complete section E; get your form notarized.
Get a money order or cashier’s check for $20.00. If you are seeking both non-identifying and identifying, one money order or cashier’s check for $25.00 is acceptable.

STEP 3: Receive Response
You will receive your response by certified mail.
The Adoption Registry Coordinator will process the affidavit forms in the order in which they are received.
If you have a medical emergency, please contact Chanel Moore the Adoption Registry Coordinator at 501-682-8462 or toll free at 888-736-2820.